Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

News of the visit of a representative of the Enclave would not please Ameris; it would be clear from the furrow on his brows as he sought out his superiors to confer on the matter.

Ameris and Telia arrive together at the temple, Ameris' armour rent and dented. He would sadly relay to the other Adorned the sad passing of Brother Lothan, an Ilmatari petitioner to the temple. He, and several other poor souls, children among them, were slain by a vampire. The very same vampire has since been destroyed, the priest would relate.

He and Telia would head to the shrine to conduct a vigil for those who died, kneeling before a candle before the altar in silent prayer.

Hoppy Toadmeadow arrives at the temple of Illmater inquiring about if she can make a donation towards helping move refugees from the sewers into safer and cleaner conditions, after making her way down there, finding it filled with bandits and those hit hardest by the cities state of recovery

In his journal, Mi-Le places bookmarks here, here, and here. All of the bookmarks are labelled "Hoppy".

When Loghain had heard about the death of a brother of the church of illmater and the children under his care at the hands of a vampire, Loghain proceeded on his own to every crypt he could find around the coast and purged every single undead he could lay his eyes on with the power of the holy light to help ensure that these foul abominations do not take the lives of another and to serve as a warning to any vampire that may think to prey on the locals of the surrounding coast again. Afterwards, and with utmost respect, Loghain proceeded to find Ameris and Telia, offering his condolences for their fallen brother and that he served his god well.

In the morning, unusually early for anyone who knows Telia, she can be seen entering the Temple of Ilmater and greetings those within. She wears a very fine blue and white dress, quite too fine for the humble Ilmateri Temple but the twinkling stars on the dress' hem are clearly visible as is the Mystran eight-pointed silver star around her neck. A white rose would adorn her black hair. She moves to the Chapel, where she spends a few hours in prayer.

Ameris is busy these past few days. An unusual, dark clad pair of visitors were seen in a private consultation and he has been rushed off his feet with matters of the soup kitchen.

Beyond that, though, the priest, when he hears of Hoppy's visit, drafts a note for her, should she drop by again.

Ameris would greet Loghain warmly when the paladin finds him; and he would speak in thankful tones of the righteous wrath that guided Loghain's arm in bringing an end to undead threats.

The day in which Telia presents herself, early, at the temple, Ameris' attention would be drawn but he would not intercept his wife, or follow her into the Chapel. Indeed. he gets on with his duties as if it is a normal day - barring the occaisional glance towards the chapel door.

Telia, wearing a fine blue dress with twinkling silver stars at the hem, visited the Temple of Ilmater during her husband's work hours. Upon finding him, the priest had to endure a public display of affection and then likely remarks about his betroot red complexion by the patients he was tending to.

The sorceress did not seem too bothered and only smiled, making her way to the main hall where the kitchen was. During the lunch hours, she aided Sister Adolina with serving tea and soup. When seeing anyone who looked lonely or troubled, she would sit down with them and talk or just offer a listening ear.

After lunch was over, she would excuse herself.

Ameris holds a sermon in the chapel in the Temple of Ilmater, taking over one of the preaching slots form one of the other adorned.

Ameris would be smartly attired as Ilmatari go, changing into his more flowing holy vestments, those that echo the Ilmatari of Calimsham. His skullcap is on his head and his holy symbol is on display. He would have a rock lily pinned to his right breast. He would indeed have prayed for the blessing of Ilmater so that his voice may be heard clearly and persuasively, even at the back.

The priest would speak before those present, whoever and whomever they might be. One notable attendee would be Telia Santraeger, who would sit near the front in a fine looking red and grey dress, the colours of Ilmater.

Ameris would offer the congregation a welcoming smile and begin in warm and gentle tones.

"Brothers, Sisters, friends, welcome."

Once attention was upon him, and the hubub of general conversation had passed, he would begin to speak. He begins to speak the sermon proper.

"All too recently our thoughts were filled with worry of what horrors might face us each day. When the plague struck last year, suffering gripped the hearts of the strong and weak, and each day was a battle against despair."

The priest would gain a look of resolution as he speaks of the battle against the plague. It stays as he continues on, to speak of the siege.

"When the undead marched, we lived in fear for the future. When they were at our walls, we thought merely of survival, and the struggle to see another day."

Ameris pauses, allowing the words to sink in, perhaps aware that he recalls tragic memories. Then, when he speaks, his tone lightens, and there is hope and relief in his voice.

"But now, winter has passed, and the spring of our renewal passes into a tentative summer. The city’s streets have been swept, houses are being rebuilt; the walls are rising again. The taint of the Blight's merciless touch has been lifted from the fields.

Charitable hearts gather to provide alms to the city's poorest, to counteract the damage to the city's farming industry, and others stimulate Baldurian trade so that the Duke's coffers and the people's coin-purses' will bulge full once more."

He smiles, now. "Baldur’s Gate rebuilds, marching ever on to safety and happiness."

Again the priest pauses, letting the words linger.

When he speaks again there is emphasis. Fervour, even, as he compares the city to one of Ilmater's holy virtues. "This city has endured. We have endured."

The fervour fades, and Ameris takes a soft breath, a sigh of remorse.

"Yet let us not forget the graves we have had to dig. There are few who have not had to say a farewell to someone who fell; a first farewell, at least. Because we still mourn, we still grieve, even months after the siege.

Every time we remember one who has passed we will say farewell again, mourn them again, grieve them again."

He lets the silence settle with a sad expression.

There is a firmness in his tone as he breaks the silence. "We must do this. We must honour what we lost."

Again the priest pauses, letting there be a breath or two of silence for reflection. His tone when he speaks once more is didactic, speaking of Ilmatari doctrine.

"The Crying God preaches that we must shoulder our burdens, not discard them. We must make our burdens something easy to carry, and then face the world with hearts of hope, not despair. We must endure. "

Ameris smiles out across the congregation, it is a knowing smile, a sympathetic one. "Easy words to say, harder to do."
He nods as he speaks, again, showing understanding. "The sadness grief brings is a burden."

As the sermon continues, hope increasingly begins to fill the priest's voice. "Let us endure, but in knowledge of the truth that we will rebuild this city to what it once was, and restore a safe, vibrant community.

Let us honour those who have fallen, but with our lives. Let us remember them, but not just in sadness.

Each day, when we live, breathe, laugh and love, we defy the undead menace that once threatened us, and took away our loved ones."

By now Ameris speaks with a certainty, the hope of before joined by almost a joyful resolution.

"We endure, and we show that their passing will not be umarked or forgotten.

As stone rises upon stone, and wood is cut to build new homes; as the poverty stricken are aided so as to cope with the distress the war brought; as our fields are sown and the seas yield up their bounty to feed hungry mouths; as we rebuild, we build a future for our community.

A future in which the war against the undead will be remembered. A future in which we honour those who fell in the struggle.

But a future in which we will live, and smile, and remember not just the horrors of the past year, but also the happy memories that those who we lost fought for."

Ameris smiles, speaking with emphasis. "This city, Baldur’s Gate, will rise again as it once was; it will be a monument to the fallen, but also a treasure to the living."

More gently, he brings the sermon to an end.

"In the name of Ilmater, the wise, the merciful, the enduring."

The priest bows his head then, silence lingering to allow reflection, before he gets on with the administrative announcements and the like that are part and parcel of a religious community.

Ameris continues to give this sermon in the same timeslot over the course of the following five days; and he also at at least one point, during the noon hour, gives the same sermon in the open air, speaking from the rostra in the square outside of Sorcerous Sundries.

/// Diplomacy roll for the preaching:
Ameris will be IG giving this sermon in the Temple of Ilmater on Wednesday 6th July at 21:00 GMT

You may catch him giving it IG near Sorcerous Sundries as well!

*The doors of the church swing open and Buurk Gerz walks in with a somewhat unsettled look on his face. A young half orc man around the age of 17 follows in behind him with an annoyed look on his face yelling orcish words at Buurks backside*

Young halforc: I don't need prayers from this god! I am orc blood I am a warrior! Not some lowly illmater runt looking to beg for mercy from a weak crying god!

Buurk Gerz(orcish): you will not disrespect the racked one! This is the house of endurance! The church of illmater! He has helped Buurk when once was lost, and he can help you to see as well.

Young halforc: I don't need help from the whining of a weak god that fails to act and simply spends his time looking after those whom should muster the strength to live on there own two feet!

Buurk Gerz(orcish): is that what you think illmater does? You are wrong! Illmater is much more than this! Illmater is about helping those that cannot help themselves, easing the suffering of those whom have no other to do it for them, he is mercy in its truest form! He teaches that true strength does not come out of the suffering of another, it comes from within, from the act of mercy to even your greatest enemy!

Young halforc: its pointless! What good can come from failure to act with swift punishment? If I capture a evil person I won't show him mercy! I'll slay him where he stands without remorse! The wicked deserve no mercy!

Buurk Gerz(orcish): *sighs* you are missing the point! Will you just sit and listen to the teachings of the priest? Please Kanguk?!

Young halforc: while we waste time here evil finds itself another victim! We could be out there killing these bastards, but instead we are here.... Perhaps if you would have been around while I was growing up you could have inspired me, but you weren't! I had to learn on my own and I don't need your help.... You may be my father by blood but that's where it ends Buurk.

Buurk gerz(orcish): that's not fair no one ever told me you even existed! I would have been ther...

*Kanguk the young half orc slams the church door in Buurks face as he leaves the temple in a fit of anger*

Buurk here(common): mebz iz sorry to desturb temple.... Buurk did not meanz too... Sorriez... Mebz will pray and be on way.... * drops a bag of 200 gold at the alter and kneels*

(Prayer) Buurk is sorry for how himz son act, he young and not understand.. Pleaze forgive himz, and watch over kanguk illmaturz... Show Buurk da ways to reach him.... Az alwuyz Buurk protekz....

*Buurk stands looking shaken and confused, sadness is written on his face as a sluggish buurk pays his respects and quietly leaves the temple with sorrow in his eyes.*

A few days ago, Brother Ameris could be seen giving a sermon on the streets of Baldur's Gate with his wife stood next to him, clad in Ilmateri colours despite it being known that she herself is a Priestess of Mystra. A banner of Ilmater was waved around, to attract attention, if the priest's voice was not enough.

Telia aided with collecting donations from many faithful and temple regulars but a few nobles and other upper class people were touched as well by the words and their purses were lighter as they returned to what they were doing prior to the sermon.